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I know this board is seemingly barely active anymore, but I like to cling to the good old days.

I made this pseudo-music video centered around my '04 800 and wanted to share it.

Do you still want these? I'm pretty sure I have my OEM set that have been laying around.

I know it seems this board is barely populated anymore, but I wanted to make a post here regardless, since the information here has been such a big contributing force in the creation of this bike.

"Maxine" has finally been completed, and I've stepped away from her for good.
This bike went on a 10,000 mile trip across the US with me in 2020, and I spent 7 months of that year living off of it. She's been in every western state. Sometime around 2022 I decided to retire her from cross-country because I feared she was getting too beat up. So I found a VN1500 Classic to take her place, and put Maxine up on blocks for a complete makeover. Two or three years later, and here she is.

For the gearheads here, I am working on a blog post that will go into further detail on the build and the mods done, including the engine stuff, which I don't talk about in the video. I'll update this post when it's done, but I'm trying to be as detailed as possible, so it might take a while.

There is also an upcoming music video of Khruangbin's "Texas Sun" featuring this bike.

I posted an intro on this forum about 6 years ago with the vague note that I "wanted to do some things"...amazing how time passes.
Thanks for the journey VDR!

Friendly bump...I know someone on this board has one of these that they don't want anymore

I am looking for a set of engine cases - left and right side - in the early, non-chrome, "ribbed" style, circa 1999-2000.

I do not need the head covers.

Willing to trade a set of chrome 2004-style cases, or pay full price - your choice.

Not expecting much interaction based upon my previous threads but wanted to give it a shot!

The rear drum brake seems to imply that this started life as a VN800 Classic and not a Drifter. Even more interesting.

If any of you folks are sitting on an old belt conversion for an 800, I am on the market.

I found one on eBay but the guy stiffed me. Time to start the search again.

Came across these photos on some auction archive site. There is virtually no information given about the bike other than that it sold in auction sometime around 10 years ago.

These were the highest quality photos I could find, the details are incredible but there's so much I can't make out. This is like a cryptid sighting.

Easily one of the most fascinating builds I've seen, I'm dying to know whose it is...

My recommendation is the Otto 32-285. It is the hat that I have placed all my patches on over the years (think I have 5 or 6 right now) and they have always been great hats. They are cheap, good quality, comfortable, have tons of awesome colors, and I am partial to the crown shape. They are medium profile mesh truckers, which I think should appeal to "most" crowds.

https://ottocap.com/32-285-5-panel-mid-profile-mesh-back-trucker-hat.html

I also like the Yupong Snapback classic, however these are smaller hats, and those of us above a 7 1/8 will have to half the snaps out. They also pinch your temples in my experience. Arguably the biggest reason I started wearing the Otto was because it is a natural fit for larger hat sizes, and way more comfortable to wear all day.

That is my vote!

I wouldn't advise it. I did a fairly long trip with a girlfriend a couple of years ago on my 800, and the bike performed fine without complaint, but it definitely felt down on power and a bit "strung out" when going uphill. We were hard pressed to do much above 75. At the time, I was about 145-150 and my woman was in that same ballpark, so we were +/- 300lbs. The weight was noticeable. I would not expect the 800 to perform well with considerably more. 

Perhaps my terminology is not correct, or depends upon context, but the diaphragm I am referring to is listed as a "vacuum valve" on CMSNL.

https://www.cmsnl.com/kawasaki-vn800e2-vulcan-800-drifter-2002-usa-california-canada_model15614/valve-vacuum_161261170/

The only part I am referencing in this thread is the rubber portion, which I've always referred to as a diaphragm. This can be maneuvered off of the metal slide portion and replaced.

For the record, I found the part. Or at least, found one that works. Apparently, it is a common part for the Triumph Thunderbird, which to my understanding also runs a cvk36.

It is listed on eBay as "Carb Slide Diaphragms FOR Keihin CVK 2000 triumph thunderbird 900 36mm".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335043785444

EVERY part that I bought (5 overall, from different sources) that was allegedly intended for our bikes did NOT fit. This supposed Triumph one, did.

Hopefully this helps someone.

Hey guys. I'm in the middle of doing a big repaint job right now and been thinking about adding some fender tips onto my bike. I've seen a few Drifter guys run these. Front and back on both fenders.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, this is the look in question:

There are many different styles. At this point, I'll take anything that fits.

Every time I come across one of these in person the profile is never right for our Drifters. I've bit the bullet on a few swap meet specials and they've gone nowhere.
I even had one of these that came off my VN1500 Classic. Bobbed the fenders and it was left over, and it was a Kawasaki part - perfect right? Wrong, not even close.

This guy posted about a set that look perfect which are apparently made for the Drifter. But of course he leaves next to no information in the thread and the post was from nearly 20 years ago.
https://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/threads/i-got-my-drifter-fender-tips.33141/

I know a handful of us have these on their bikes. Anyone have any models or part nos. that they can share?

Hey all. Bike in question is an '03 Drifter 800, running the CVK36.

The rubber slide diaphragm on this carb has been torn/pinholed. I have been searching for months looking for a replacement diaphragm that is the correct fit. Dealers, parts fiches and eBay carb rebuild kits ALL claim they will fit my carb but they do NOT. The diaphragm is too big and is clearly meant for, I'm guessing, a CV40. I have returned 5 different diaphragms from differing sources and they are all the same too-big part, and the sources always seem baffled and have no advice.

WHERE can I find this part? I refuse to believe that I am the only person in history to replace one of these.

Thanks...

It only attaches to the seat itself...guess it just depends if the rail on the back of the seat is in the same position or not.
I'd be obliged if you snapped a pic of it for me!

Much obliged Chief!

http://motorcycle.brick7-ca.com/media/ca/3969301_3969400/3969379_3f8a036763961ea1.jpg

Looking for the bracket/backrest/luggage rack seen in this photo. Not sure if this was an oem part or not. Will pay high dollar if somebody has one. Any leads or tips appreciated. Thank you!

Oh hell yeah! Great idea! Let's see it all finished, I'll bet it's beautiful.

I have had no less than 7 old guys insist to me at gas stations that they used to have a Harley EXACTLY like my Honda 450.

The last one asked me type of engine it was...Pan, Shovel, ert...and I told him, "It's a Fish Head" and scooted out of there

I don't know what you guys are talking about. On my deserted highways I've done exactly 110 on my 800 before I felt like she'd had enough. I couldn't handle the wind at that speed anyway.

This was BEFORE I had modified my intake or carb or anything. Bone stock with that speed. I haven't tried it again since juicing it.

I would look into your performance, because these machines can fly.

Under no circumstances would I ever consider the Drifters to be "easy to find" compared to other bikes. The relatively low number of them to begin with, coupled with the inherently collectible quality, make them sort of standouts when they do appear on Craigslist.

However that being said, I think I have to say, I've had easier times finding them in the last few years than I ever did when they were newer. When I was in high school, I found a total of 3 of them on Craigslist (and I went to school in CA, mind you - one of the biggest motorcycle hubs in the country). Of those few, they were highly priced. Hence why I put the Drifter on my backburner for many many years.

When I resumed by search in 2018, I found them suddenly much more transparent. I actually had the opportunity to look at two of them in the Rockies, and found several more on the coast with little searching. The bike I ended up finding was in showroom condition and I got it for cheaaaaap. That never would have happened in 2009...

So barring the generally uncommon nature of these bikes, in my experience I think I have to disagree. I've been seeing more of them, and more affordably.

The ironic thing seems to now be that with the bikes becoming more available, the parts for them are getting rarer and rarer. So many parts that I had bookmarked in high school are now permanently discontinued. I wish I'd bought so much of this crap back in the day and held on to it. Prime example is the Roadhouse exhaust...I'll take that one to the grave...
You just can't win!

Thanks for the replies. These are some great ideas. I like the concept of running the license plate at the bottom as it seems to fit nicely between the edges of the bumperette.

I'm doing it!

The Drifter is not necessarily an old man's bike.

I was in high school in the early 2000's. I always had an inclination towards mechanical things and especially motorcycles. At a certain point in school I started calling myself a greaser, listening to a lot of 50's music and developing a hot rod mentality in order to escape what I felt was a major oppression. Began taking my machines more seriously and started my first ground-up custom build, a KZ750 twin. That bike was my identity.

As the building and riding became more serious in conjunction with my choice of literature and musical influences, I decided I needed to focus my brain on a dream bike, an end-all motorcycle that I could set as a long-term goal for myself. My mind was a little overwhelmingly scattered at this time, and I liked having dreams that I could focus on for comfort. Sort of a Kerouac type of thing, I guess.

Coming out of the cafe racer scene I decided I needed a cruiser, and soon I started fantasizing about riding a big V-twin through the Southwest. I never liked Harleys, but I loved Indians. Something about that mid-century style was irresistible to me, and I told myself that I would style my new custom ride like one of the chiefs or scouts.
The funny part about this story is that at first I had no idea the Drifter existed. However I was aware of the Vulcan 800, and for whatever reason, I decided that was the bike for me. I loved the shape of the frame, especially the triangular side covers (I still do have a weakness for that spot). I had heard great things about the riding and performance and I liked the idea of owning another Kawasaki. So I somewhat arbitrarily wrote down my dream donor bike as a Vulcan 800. Soon, all the margins on my math papers were filled with doodles of potential builds.

At the time I was struggling to find any work whatsoever, and $7 an hour doing part-time as a janitor at a warehouse was about as good as I was gonna get. So the saving started...the slow, slow saving.

However the Vulcan ended up on the backburner shortly. At some point I made the conscious decision that my financial pace was much better suited to buying multiple cheap old barn bikes and having fun RIDING them, then it was saving for something I realistically couldn't afford and waiting for a long period of time riding less. And I uphold that that was the best decision I could have made, because in the time that I would have spent saving for the Vulcan, I ended up buying something like 7 additional bikes and I rode the piss out of all of them. I had the time of my life. Plus I became a considerably better mechanic in that time, which was also a benefit.

But I never forgot about the 800, and I had a big drawing of my build on the wall that I still looked at every day. And then randomly, at some point browsing around the internet looking at pics of the 800, I came across...wait for it...THEY MADE A VULCAN THAT WAS BASED ON AN INDIAN?!?
Well my brain just about exploded at that one. Needless to say, my dream bike suddenly evolved. LOL

In the end I spent something like 11 years (and about as many bikes) waiting to eventually buy my Drifter. I had a lot of money saved after last summer and casually started looking on Craigslist. The rest of that story is in my intro elsewhere on the forum.
But anyway. I've gone through what felt like a lifetime from that initial dream, but in the end, I made it happen and I'm so in freaking love with my new machine I can't even describe it. It might be over a decade later, but a high school hot rodder with a penchant for Indian motorcycles is finally happy.

Cool filter. Now let me ask you, did you just plug that thing straight onto the carb and go? Or did you integrate it into the stock air intake?

I've been reading about the "Grampsizing" mod and was considering trying my hand at it, but the chopper in me thought it would be a hell of a lot easier to just ditch the OEM system altogether and slap a filter on the carb opening like my older bikes. But I feel like if the answer was that simple I would see a lot more people around here doing it. Any thoughts?